Learn the various forms of dementia

The term "dementia" is used to describe the gradual deterioration of "intellectual" abilities and behavior that eventually interferes with customary daily living activities. "Customary daily living activities" include balancing the checkbook, keeping house, driving the car, involvement in social activities, and working at one's usual occupation. There may also be changes in personality and emotions. Contrary to popular belief, dementia is not a normal outcome of aging, but is caused by diseases that affect the brain. Dementia influences all aspects of mind and behavior, including memory, judgment, language, concentration, visual perception, temperament, and social interactions. Although dementia symptoms are eventually obvious to everyone, in the early stages special evaluations are necessary to demonstrate the abnormalities.

Dementia is not a single disease, but a set of symptoms and signs related to multiple diseases or brain injuries. The following is a list of some types of dementias:

• Alzheimer's Disease
• Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
• Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
• Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA)
• Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) & Progressive Supranuclear Palso (PSP)
• Vascular Dementia (VaD)
• Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Learn more about the different diseases and conditions associated with dementia, as well as symptoms, treatments, support, and resources from the following links:

The Alzheimer's Association
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center
International PPA Connection

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